Contract With The Alpha King
Contract 53

Chapter 53

Queen Lyanna paced furiously inside King Nicholas's study, her footsteps loud and erratic, the tension in the room mounting with every sharp turn she made. Her normally calm, composed demeanor had been shattered, replaced by a storm of emotions she could no longer contain. Across the room, Carissa sat on the couch, her face buried in her hands as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"I can't believe this!" Lyanna hissed, her voice tight with frustration. "How dare he treat us this way? How dare he treat me this way?"

King Nicholas sat behind his desk, rubbing his temples as if trying to ward off the growing headache caused by his wife's relentless pacing. "Lyanna," he muttered, his voice filled with exasperation. "Your pacing is making this worse. Sit down, for heaven's sake." Lyanna stopped abruptly, turning to face him, her eyes blazing with fury. "Why are you treating me like this?" she demanded, her voice rising. "As if I'm the problem here! Why are you favoring him-your son-over me? Over your Queen?"

King Nicholas raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair as he regarded her with cool detachment. "Favoring him?" he asked, his tone calm, almost bored. "What are you talking about?"

Lyanna's face twisted with frustration. "You know exactly what I mean!" she shot back, taking a step closer to his desk. "You let him disrespect me in front of everyone! You allow him to do as he pleases without consequences! Why are you always on his side?" Nicholas frowned, his gaze hardening. "And what exactly would you like me to do, Lyanna?" His voice dropped, an edge of warning creeping in. "Remove Elijah from the Rite of Kings? Imprison him in the dungeon? Or perhaps... kill him?"

The Queen flinched at his words, her anger momentarily silenced. She hadn't expected such a sharp retort. For a moment, she said nothing, her lips pressed into a thin line as she searched for a response.

When no words came, King Nicholas continued, his tone firm but weary. "You may not like it, but Elijah is my son. He is the strongest contender for the throne, and whether you approve of him or not, he will not be removed from this path." He stood, walking around his desk to face her directly. "Do not ask me to choose between you and him. You will not like the answer."

The room fell into a tense silence, the Queen's expression unreadable as she stood there, grappling with her emotions. After a long pause, she straightened, her chin lifting slightly in defiance. "We are leaving," she said quietly, turning to Carissa. "Let's go." Carissa who was still trembling from her earlier encounter with Elijah, wiped her tears and nodded, standing up shakily. She glanced at King Nicholas and give him a low bow, but he said nothing, his attention already shifting back to the matters at hand.

As the Queen and Carissa made their way out of the study, Nicholas's voice called out behind them. "I will be at the questioning as well," he stated firmly. "Make sure you are prepared."

Lyanna didn't respond, simply leaving the room with Carissa in tow.

Meanwhile, Fiona remained inside the cold, dark cell, her back pressed against the rough stone wall. Her eyes drifted toward the small piece of bread left for her earlier, sitting untouched on the floor beside her. She stared at it, but the thought of eating made her stomach turn.

She wasn't hungry. She wasn't anything. Just trapped, her mind swirling with thoughts of what had happened and what was

yet to come.

The dungeon remained silent, save for the distant dripping of water somewhere deep within its walls. Fiona exhaled softly, her body heavy with exhaustion, but her mind too restless to replace any peace.

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"That necklace..." the same voice from the older man who was chained against the walls interrupted the silence. "Where did you get that?"

Fiona stayed silent, refusing to respond to the man's question. She kept her gaze focused on the ground, her fingers tightening around the hem of her clothes as tension filled the air.

The man, however, didn't seem to take her silence well. She heard the chains rattle as he tugged against them, the metal groaning under the strain. "Where did you get that necklace?" he hissed, his voice now sharper, more menacing.

Fiona flinched but kept her mouth shut, determined not to engage with him. The dungeon felt smaller now, the oppressive atmosphere closing in around her. The man's growls became more animalistic, filled with fury and frustration.

Before things could escalate, a guard's voice rang out. "Shut up in there, or I'll make sure you regret it!" he barked, his tone harsh and authoritative.

The man didn't listen. Instead, his growls deepened, and Fiona could feel his eyes burning into her, the intensity of his gaze making her shiver inwardly. She squeezed her eyes shut, wishing he would just stop, but the air seemed to thicken with his growing hostility. Suddenly, the door to the man's cell clanged open, and a group of guards stormed inside. Fiona heard the scuffle, the sound of chains clanking as the man thrashed against them. They forced him down, and Fiona glanced away just in time to see one of the guards shove a vial of liquid into the man's mouth. He fought against them, growling and resisting, but the guards overpowered him, forcing him to swallow the liquid.

The old man's growls turned to choked sputters, and after a few agonizing moments, the guards finally left, slamming the cell door shut behind them. The dungeon was silent again, save for the man's labored breathing. Fiona kept her gaze fixed on the floor, her heart still pounding from the tension. But the quiet didn't last long.

"They're keeping us weak," a voice muttered from a nearby cell. It was the younger man with the tattoos, his tone flat but carrying a hint of bitterness. "That liquid they gave him... it's just like the one they gave you earlier."

Fiona's head snapped up, her eyes narrowing at the man. "What do you mean?" she asked cautiously, though deep down, she already had a feeling she knew.

The man shrugged, his gaze distant. "It doesn't just weaken you physically. It messes with your head. Keeps your mind foggy. makes it hard to think clearly. It won't kill you, but it'll make sure you're not in control."

Fiona frowned, her mind racing. She hadn't understood why they'd given her that water earlier, but now it was becoming clearer. It wasn't about weakening her body-it was about dulling her mind, keeping her from thinking straight. But why would they do that? Right before the questioning?

Only one word came to her mind: a scheme.

Someone wanted her vulnerable, wanted her unable to defend herself or think clearly when it mattered most. Someone was trying to sabotage her, ensuring she wouldn't be able to answer any questions properly.

Was it the Queen? Was it Carissa? Was it Carissa's father? Or was it both?

But what if the one who was trying to harm her wasn't even in this place? She shivered as she thought of her father or the alpha of her pack. Was it them?

Fiona's thoughts raced as she tried to piece together who might be behind the scheme, but before she could analyze further, the sound of approaching footsteps cut through the silence. The guards had returned. Her heart quickened, but she forced herself to remain calm, steeling her expression as they reached her cell.

The door swung open with a loud creak, and two of the guards stepped inside. For a brief moment, she thought they might try to force her to eat the bread, but instead, they grabbed her arms, lifting her to her feet.

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Fiona didn't resist. She let her body go limp, her head lolling slightly as if she was no longer in control of herself. She had to play the part and make them believe the drug was still working. If they thought she was too weak to fight back, it might give her the advantage later.

The guards dragged her out of the cell, her feet barely touching the ground as they moved her down the dimly lit corridor. Fiona kept her eyes half-closed, her mind focused on staying in character. But as they passed by the old man's cell, a deep, guttural growl echoed through the dungeon.

"Where did you get that necklace?" The old man's voice was rough, edged with something primal.

Fiona kept her gaze down, refusing to acknowledge him. But suddenly, there was a loud snap, and the sound of chains breaking filled the air. She glanced up just in time to see the old man standing, his shackles shattered on the ground. His body was hunched, muscles straining as he lunged toward the bars of his cell, his hands reaching out toward her.

The guards flinched, momentarily caught off guard by his sudden burst of strength. Fiona's, heart leaped in her chest, but the herbs on the bars did their job. The moment the old man touched them, a hiss escaped his lips as the herbs burned his skin. He growled in pain, but it didn't stop him. He slammed against the bars again, his blackened eyes fixated on Fiona.

For a second, their eyes met. Through the matted hair hanging over his face, Fiona saw his eyes-completely black, devoid of any white. The sight made her stomach twist, but she quickly dismissed it as a trick of the poor lighting. Still, the intensity of his stare left her rattled.

"Where did you get it?" he growled again, louder this time, his voice almost desperate. "Answer me! Where did you get the necklace!?"

Fiona froze, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't tear her gaze away from him. The air in the dungeon seemed to thicken, the old man's obsession with her necklace was unsettling.

But before anything else could happen, one of the guards yanked her forward, snapping her out of her daze. They dragged her past the cell, leaving the old man behind as the other guards rushed in to subdue him. She could hear the sounds of a struggle, the clattering of chains, and the man's enraged roars echoing in the hallway.

Fiona clenched her teeth, her thoughts spinning. What was it about the necklace that had set him off like that? She didn't have time to dwell on it, though, because as soon as they pulled her out of the dungeon, the bright light hit her eyes, forcing her to squint. She instinctively lowered her head, keeping her face hidden from view. The last thing she needed was for anyone to see how aware she actually was.

The questioning was next. She knew it. The moment the light hit her, reality sank in. The Queen had been waiting for this, and now it was finally happening. Fiona took a deep breath, preparing herself for what was to come. She couldn't afford any mistakes. Not now. Not when someone was determined to see her fail.

Her heart pounded in her chest as the low hum of voices reached her ears-talking, murmuring. She had just arrived at the place where they would judge her for a crime she hadn't committed.

"Silence!" a booming voice echoed through the room, instantly quieting the crowd. Fiona's heart raced as she lifted her gaze to replace herself standing in the center of what resembled a courtroom, though the setup felt far more ominous. People surrounded her in every direction, seated in rows that curved around the circular room.

The man who had called for silence stood on a raised platform at the far end. He was older, his hair silver, with a hard expression that made it clear he was not to be trifled with. His presence demanded authority, and the room responded accordingly, falling into a hushed stillness.

Fiona scanned the faces of those gathered. She recognized none of them. Nobles, elders, and perhaps some powerful figures from various factions were all here to witness her questioning, her judgment.

Her pulse quickened as she turned her head, searching for Elijah in the crowd. But he wasn't there. Panic flickered at the edges of her mind. Was he not allowed to join the questioning? Did they keep him away on purpose? The absence of his familiar presence made her feel more vulnerable, more isolated

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